The Arrangement

A Parental Slap In The Face

It had been exactly four days since we arrived in London. It's now the thirty first of December and it's been snowing extra today. Its round about 2 pm and we are all deep under blankets just watching some romance movie.

I have my two tails on either side of me and we are drinking hot chocolate.  I had Sinokuhle on Kelvin's side and she was drinking  a cup of warm water. Scar was no where to be found but I had an idea of where he might be,  I just didn't want to leave the warmth provided by my blankets.

Nana had baked a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies and mint chocolate cookies on the night after we arrived. The bowl was on the table and it had both cookies and some sweets too. "I'm bored. Why don't we go to our room Baby, I've got an itch that only you can reach." Stacy said to Jordan.

"There are kids I the room Stacy. Have some self respect." Christine said as she rolled her eyes. "What do kids have to do with what I said? Just kind your own business Christina and stop being a bother."

"Its Christine. And I'd mind my own business if you just had a filter on that dirty mouth of yours, I wouldn't have anything to say."

"Brush your teeth" a small voice answered. I looked to my right and Kelvin hid his head in my armpit. "We don't say such things to people Kelvin." He hid further in my armpit. "Sorry mommy.  I was just trying to help." Some people laughed across the room.

I did my best to look serious, "Apologize to Stacy Kelvin."

"Okay Mommy.  Sorry Miss Stacy." He came up from under my arm but quickly got back in after uttering the apology. We all looked to Stacy.  "What?"

"Don't you have anything to say?" Jordan asked, "No. Except maybe that Crystal should teach her children better manners. They are rude. But its no shock where they get it from." She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

"That's just petty. And it's not a cute colour on you." Sinokuhle said as she took a sip of her water. "Why are you all ganging up on me?"

"If stating facts is ganging up on you, honey, you are gonna feel like-you know what, I'm not gonna waste my breath on you." I answered. We sat in awkward, uncomfortabe silence.

"Mommy, when are we going back to South Africa?" I heard Zothile ask me. "On the second of Jan darling." I answered her, "Okay." She settled back under my arm.

"Good riddance to bad trash." Stacy said. "Excuse me?"

"I said  good riddance to bad trash Honey." She mocked. "You cannot say such things to my family. Ive kept quiet for a long time but enough is enough." Jordan nearly shouted.

"Okay. Kids let's go." Sinokuhle took them by hand and they walked out. "Jay..."

"No Crystal. I'm sorry I've tolerated her behavior for so long. Stacy if you can't be nice to my family or even try to be, we are gonna have to end." We all were shocked because these two had been together for a long time.

"Jordan you don't mean that." Her voice was shaky. "I do. Stacy I love you but I love my family too." He took hold of her hands, "I don't want us to break up but if you continue with this behavior, I'm afraid we will go our separate ways."

"I'm sorry Jay..." They hugged and I had to hold back my sobs. "Come on, let's give them their space." Christopher stood up, took Christine's hand in his and they walked out. I followed shortly after them.

I walked to the kitchen to toast some bread. I felt hungry all of a sudden. "Hey," I looked up. "Hi Scar. Did you need something?"

"Water." I hummed in acknowledgement before continuing with the ingredients for my toast. I had my avocado and tomato sliced and seasoned. "Ae you gonna eat all of that?" I looked down at my food.

"Ewe. Ikhona inxaki? (Yes. Is there a problem?)" I faced him, holding the knife in my hand. "Chaa. There's no problem. Enjoy" he gestured to my food.

"I will." He walked out and I proceeded to sit down on the bar stool and enjoy my meal. "Slow down tiger, no one is chasing you for your food." I raised my head at the sound of Jayden's voice. "Ishh delishhourss. (It's delicious)" I say, stuffing another piece of the toast in my mouth.

"Can I have some?" His hand moves to my food. "No!" I slapped his hand away. "You vicious!" He whines, rubbing his hand.
P

"Mmm" I shrug and finish my food. "Ahh. Wasn't that nice." I wash my plate. "I'd say yes but you didn't share. Rude."

"You love me like this." I smile at him, taking the bottle of water from his hands. "You're lucky I love you!" He shouts from behind me.

I walked up the stairs to my room. I decided to take a long needed bath. After my bath, I took my time to lotion my body. By the time I left the bathroom, it was nearing 4 pm. I quickly got dressed in a long black wool dress, I paired it with my white slippers and fuzzy socks. I brushed my hair and wore stud earrings.

I began packing our clothes back into our bags. I would wash the dirty laundry and pack it in once it dried up. I took the basket and walked up to the laundry room. I spent close to two hours with washing, rinsing and drying. By the time I got out, it was 7 pm and dinner had begun.

I packed our clothes in our bags and left out the outfits for the next day. When I got downstairs, everyone was clearing the table. "There she is" Christopher said. "Here I am" I said in a singing voice. I settled down in between my babies who were more than happy to be indulging in their meals.

I plated what I thought would be enough food for me because I felt really hungry in that moment. When I looked up to grab the mash potatoes, I saw eyes staring at me. "What?"

"Who is eating all of that?"

"I am" I answered, "Okay..."

"Guess you are comfortable with getting fat" Stacy scoffed rudely. I banged my hand on the table, seemingly shocking everyone, myself included. "Stacy, I dare you to open that rubbish mouth of yours again. I don't mind rearranging that horror you call a face, free of charge! Try me!" I spat.

"Crystal!" Nana gasped. I grabbed my plate and walked out to the dining area. I dragged the one seater closer to the fire place and sat down to eat. Just as I'd taken my last spoonful, Nana walked in.

"Dearheart.. "

"Yes Nana?" I place the plate on my lap, turning to focus solely on her. "I know you do not like Jordan's...lover, but its not okay for you to act like that's. Especially infront of your children. What kind of example are you setting?"

"Nana-"

"No Dearheart. Don't say a word. Now, you listen." I nodded, "You are a mother now, you cannot do certain things infront of your children, or say certain things because children mirror what their parents do. They may not say the things you want them to say, but they will say the things that you say. They look up to their parents so they mirror them. Do what is right so that they grow up knowing what's right and what's wrong." She kissed my forehead, pats my shoulder and walked out.

I sat there, reflecting on her words. I cannot lie, I felt shameful to have acted in such a manner infront of my children. But I vowed to do better from then on.

Note:

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What A Night

After nearly half a year of not seeing one another, these friends finally have a weekend where they all are free. What could go wrong?

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